The Chattogram city unit of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has made extensive preparations to welcome Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman during his visit to Chattogram today. The city's main roads and flyovers have been freshly painted and decorated, while numerous roads have been adorned with arches, banners, and festoons. Leaders and activists from various units of the party are also preparing to welcome the prime minister.
According to the schedule, the prime minister will inspect major development projects in Maheshkhali, attend rehabilitation programmes for recent flood victims in Banshkhali and Hathazari, meet Allama Shah Muhibbullah Babunagari in Fatikchhari and visit the grave of Allama Shah Ahmad Shafi in Hathazari. He will later travel by road to Chattogram and attend an organisational meeting at Radisson Blu Chattogram Bay View hotel at 7:15 pm.
Around 600 grassroots leaders and activists from the three organisational units of BNP in Chattogram are expected to attend the meeting. This will be the prime minister's first visit to Chattogram since assuming office. Chattogram BNP sources said Tarique Rahman will hear the views of party leaders and activists at the meeting, with grassroots leaders expressing enthusiasm about the opportunity to share their views with him.
Ershad Ullah, MP and convener of Chattogram city BNP, told BSS today that leaders and activists from various levels of the organisation were excited about the prime minister's visit. Chattogram city BNP Joint Convener (office in-charge) Shawkat Azam Khawaja said the entire 53-member convening committee, along with conveners, senior joint conveners and member secretaries of 41 ward BNP committees, would attend the meeting. Representatives of Jubo Dal, Chhatra Dal, Swechchhasebak Dal and Mahila Dal, as well as long-time party workers who currently hold no official positions, are also expected to attend.
Nazimur Rahman, member secretary of Chattogram city BNP, told BSS that arrangements had been made in line with directives from the party's central leadership. MP Mohammad Abu Sufian said Tarique Rahman is highly regarded among the people of this region, following the martyrdom of President Ziaur Rahman and the tenure of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. The people's affection for the Zia family is profound.
Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Zahidul Islam Miah said police, RAB, BGB and the Special Security Force (SSF) were engaged in preparations for the prime minister's arrival. "Intelligence agencies are also fulfilling their responsibilities. Adequate security measures have been taken to ensure the prime minister's safe movement," he added.
